Once-only colonoscopy or two rounds of faecal immunochemical testing 2 years apart for colorectal cancer screening (SCREESCO): preliminary report of a randomised controlled trial.

Forsberg A, Westerberg M, Metcalfe C, Steele R, Blom J, Engstrand L et al.

Lancet Gastroenterol Hepatol 2022; 7: 513-521.

This study included 278,280 people. More people accepted the faecal testing than colonoscopy (55.5 versus 35.1 per cent). Similar rates of cancer were detected (0.16 and 0.2 per cent, respectively). More  advanced adenomas were detected by colonoscopy (2.05 versus 1.61 per cent, respectively).

Comment: Overall, more cancers were found by the method that was more acceptable to people. Late benefits in disease-specific mortality will be used to decide on the method of choice.